Teen author’s novel arrives on shelves

There’s a new book on the summer reading list at Oak Mountain High School this year, and its author will be familiar to some students. Anna Kathryn Davis isn’t just a name on a cover — she’s a 2012 graduate of the high school.

Her novel, The Gifted, debuted in April. It follows Rose Hawthorne, whose face is so beautiful it drives normal men insane, as she learns that she and her friends, with superpowers, have to protect the human race from an infestation. 

Davis started writing in the seventh grade when a teacher she confided in at Oak Mountain Middle School suggested she take up poetry to sort out her emotions. She said it was a disaster, but she did start writing prose that slowly turned into characters and plots. By ninth grade, she had her first manuscript. 

“I’m glad I didn’t try to do anything with that,” Davis said. “Re-reading it definitely keeps me humbled.” 

It wasn’t until junior year that she began writing The Gifted. Davis has always been the youngest in her grade, so when everyone else was out driving places, she stayed up late writing. As a result she ended up having a lot of material. In a folder of miscellaneous writing on her computer, she had stories and prose ranging from four to 400 pages. 

One night, she went through the folder and started compiling the things she really liked and started combining them. 

“From there, it took on a life of its own,” Davis said.

In two and a half months she had a completed novel. Then came the pre-edits and editing with other’s help. When she thought it was complete, she wasn’t sure what to do next. 

“I never intended to write it,” she said, “so when I finished it, I pulled books off my bookshelf to find publishing companies.”

She emailed her manuscript to those companies and didn’t receive feedback, so she let the book sit. When senior year came, she looked at an old list, her bucket list. Publishing a book was on there, so she went to Google and searched “small publishing houses.” 

She clicked the first link, found Tate Publishing and Enterprises and followed its “submit your manuscript” button. She even input her mother’s information and approval without permission. Her mom didn’t even know Davis wrote the book. 

Before long Tate called her and asked Davis about The Gifted. 

“Mom called and asked what The Gifted was,” Davis said. “I got so mad. I thought she’d been going through my things.” 

By late December, Davis had signed a contract and began the long process with multiple editors, a design team, a publicist and marketer. 

Davis, with no previous knowledge of how the industry worked, was overwhelmed. She even had to cut 40,000 words from her story. But now she has a website, annakathryndavis.com and a book for sale on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble.

“It may sound cliché to say ‘I just have to thank God,’” Davis said, “but I do. I feel like this is what I was supposed to do. Tate’s is a Christian publishing house, and my novel doesn’t have any Christian underlinings.”

Davis is now a double major at The University of Alabama, keeps endless lists of her goals and of things to do, and maintains two jobs.  

But, if you ask the 18 year old what she wants to do with her life, she will tell you she doesn’t have a clue.

“Before the book thing took off,” Davis said, “I always wanted to be a pediatrician.” 

One thing is for sure though: she will go into an experience with “published author” on her resume.